Fenerbahçe came from behind twice to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul, with substitute Vedat Muriqi heading the winner after Mason Greenwood and Archie Brown had answered goals from Trey Nyoni and Alexander Isak. The defeat ended Liverpool’s perfect start to the Champions League league phase.
Istanbul, Turkey: Liverpool led twice at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium and still left with nothing. On a night of cheap goals and fast swings, each Liverpool lead lasted about four minutes before Fenerbahçe pulled them back, and a header from Muriqi in the 79th minute settled a Champions League league-phase match that had belonged to neither side for long.
Nyoni’s first, Greenwood’s reply
Andoni Iraola made five changes after the weekend defeat at Anfield, and Liverpool found a way through first. In the 25th minute Dominik Szoboszlai’s ball into the box was only half-cleared, and Trey Nyoni struck a deflected shot past Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Ederson for what was his first professional goal.
The lead barely outlived the celebrations. In the 29th minute Mason Greenwood curled a free kick towards goal, the ball took a deflection off Jeremy Jacquet, and Alisson Becker, wrong-footed, could only watch it in. It was 1-1, and it stayed that way to the break.
Isak lifts Liverpool, then the hosts hit back
Iraola sent on Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo in the 66th minute, and the change paid off almost at once. In the 69th minute Gakpo crossed from the flank and Isak, left free in the six-yard box, headed in with his first touch of the game to make it 2-1.
Four minutes later Fenerbahçe were level again. A cross from a short corner was diverted by Gakpo, a muddle between the forward and Alisson followed, and Archie Brown tapped in at the back post. The home crowd sensed the turn. In the 79th minute a high, looping cross dropped to Muriqi, who outmuscled Jacquet and headed it into the bottom corner to complete the comeback.
A first European defeat for Liverpool
Liverpool had won their first three games of the league phase, and this was their first defeat in Europe. It also came three days after a 1-0 loss to Arsenal at Anfield, leaving them with two straight defeats at the halfway point of the eight-game phase.
Iraola said afterwards that his team had led twice and controlled stretches of the game, but that they had conceded in situations they should defend better. Set-piece defending and communication in a loud stadium were the weak points. Only the top eight teams qualify directly for the last 16, and Liverpool will need to restore their rhythm quickly to stay in that group.
Result: Fenerbahçe 3, Liverpool 2 (UEFA Champions League, league phase, Matchday 4, Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, 4 November 2026; half-time 1-1). Fenerbahçe: Greenwood 29’, Brown 73’, Muriqi 79’. Liverpool: Nyoni 25’, Isak 69’.
